Column: Masada’s royal bath house

0

Masada, located near the eastern border of Israel, is Israel’s second-most popular tourist destination, each year attracting almost 1 million visitors. For many, the most interesting thing to see is an elaborate bath complex built by Herod the Great.

In 37 B.C., the Roman Senate appointed Herod the King of Judea, a position he held until he died in 4 B.C.  Known to Christians for ordering the killing of male babies in Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Jesus, Herod is known to history for his massive building projects, including the reconstruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and an artificial harbor on the Mediterranean coast named Caesarea Maritima. 

  To protect himself and his royal entourage from the constant threat of insurrection, Herod built a number of fortresses around his kingdom, the most famous one at Masada. Atop this isolated and rocky plateau in the Judean desert, then reachable only by a winding narrow path, Herod built two palaces, the northern one a three-tiered structure more than 100 feet tall offering a spectacular view of the Dead Sea. Near his palaces, Herod constructed a four-room Roman bath. After changing clothes in a room richly decorated with frescoes, royal bathers entered a room where air heated in a furnace was blown beneath a floor supported on posts, heating the entire room and causing bathers to perspire. After entering an adjoining room where they were scrubbed clean and oiled by slaves, bathers entered the final room, where they doused themselves in a pool of cold water.

Masada was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001. Today, Masada’s bath complex has been partially restored and models show how it looked during the time of King Herod. Visitors not wanting to climb the so-called “Snake Path” to the top can ride a cable car.


Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Share.

Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact